Monolith’s Future Plans Stir Discussion in Hallam
In a quiet Hallam auditorium, Monolith employees outnumbered the board members six to four during the recent Hallam Planning Commission meeting. The agenda was concise, yet the topic of Monolith’s future plans generated significant interest among the few residents who attended.
Monolith, a company specializing in carbon black production, has submitted a request for a text amendment to Hallam’s village code and seeks approval for a new data center. This initiative is in collaboration with Crusoe, an AI factory based in Denver.
A letter to the Hallam Clerk’s Office indicates that Monolith aims to secure approval from village officials by September 7. Initially, Monolith intended to expand its 13 carbon black units by adding an ammonia facility. However, as Austin Burk, Vice President of Capital Projects, explained, the company is transitioning its feedstock from natural gas to liquid hydrocarbon, resulting in lower hydrogen production.
“We explored different options on the hydrogen use and found that a co-located data center made the most sense. I think we felt like it was the best for the community,” Burk stated.
Alongside the data center, Monolith plans to add four more carbon black units to its campus, located about 25 miles southwest of Lincoln. This marks the first phase of a long-term project, with future expansions planned for the east of the current facility.
Board members raised questions regarding water usage, noise, and potential expansion impacts. Commissioner Cynthia Heier noted the changes Hallam has experienced recently, such as the ongoing construction of a 304-megawatt solar farm east of the town.
Despite her concerns, Heier expressed support for the project to Nebraska Public Media, saying, “This is coming in as creating jobs, which we need here badly. So there are younger people here who need the work, and we think this is a thing of the future, and it’s here to stay. So, we need to embrace it.”
Not everyone shares Heier’s optimism. Commissioner Jeanne Egger reported that many residents she spoke with oppose the data center, citing issues like noise, heat, and light. “You know it’s the noise, the heat, the light. It’s all everybody’s mentioned, and then the concern when it jumped 42nd Street over to the next section, where is it going to stop?” Egger remarked.
Gary Vocasek, Chairman of the Hallam Board of Trustees, acknowledged the residents’ hesitations, attributing some of the opposition to misinformation.
Both commissioners and Monolith employees are hopeful for increased public participation at the upcoming Monolith town hall on July 23 at 7 p.m. in the Hallam auditorium.
